Monday, January 5, 2009

Rich...sweet...delicious....and very popular in winter months specially in Northern India..... Gajar Ka Halwa, a traditional Indian dessert with a creamy texture is one of my favorite sweets. My Mom usually makes Gajar ka Halwa twice a month during winter season.

There are different ways of making it. It can be prepared in a simple way by using whole milk or can be made in a rich manner by adding condensed milk (milkmaid) or homemade mava(khoya). I decided to opt my Mom's recipe of preparing it with homemade Khoya/Mava, lots of Dry Fruits and a little Ghee.

I have seen my Mom preparing it in a large cast iron kadai/sauce pan and also sometimes in a her 5L Futura Pressure Cooker to reduce the making time. Even I, in spite of having a lot of free time here in US, decided to try my hands using my pressure cooker........and the result was fabulous... Here is my Mom's recipe...

Reduce the heat and continue cooking at simmering point. Keep stirring so that milk does not stick to the base of the pan.

As milk gets thicker stir more vigorously. The khoya is cooked when the milk is reduced to a thick, dry lump and it has stopped sizzling.

Remove from the pan and leave it to cool. Use within fortnight.

To prepare Gajar Ka Halwa:

Boil the remaining Milk in a pressure cooker. Add grated carrots.

Close and bring to one full pressure on high heat. Remove the cooker immediately from heat. Release pressure with slight lifting of vent weight. Open cooker and transfer the whole thing into wide thick bottomed skillet.

Should I be a little biased and say "Thank God finally there is someone who knows how to make Gajar ka Halwa"! :) Although I skip the Khoya making and buy it pre-made, this dessert is a sure hit esp. in winters (with boiled eggs). Once anyone has had this version, the milk and khoya less fried gajar thing called 'halwa' mostly just doesn't cut it anymore :D

Hey Anshu,Great recipe..I loved the fact that you have used a pressure cooker. Can you let me know how many people this serves as a dessert after a potluck dinner.yes i am plannin to take this for a potluck of 25 people. :)

Thanks Shilpa.Hi,Thanks :)My measurement i.e 1 kg Carrots is a good enough amount as a dessert after dinner for 12-15 people.For 25 people, 1.5kg Carrots will be OK and accordingly will be the ratio of Milk and Khoya.

Yes, a can of evaporated milk or condensed milk can be used instead of khoya. You can also opt a popular Indian sweet named "Kalakand" in absence of above ingredients. Kalakand should be addend in the just before removing the end product from heat.